So many distractions bedevil the city streetscape that we might think competing with them would be a useless exercise. But San Francisco's art museums have learned otherwise through the street pole banners that they position in high-traffic areas of the city.

"We've learned through audience research that people do recognize them and they're one of the most effective ways of promoting an exhibition," said Tim Hallman, director of marketing at the Asian Art Museum. Banners advertising the Asian's current show, "Beyond Golden Clouds: Five Centuries of Japanese Screens" (through Jan. 16) hang in various parts of town.

Like other major arts institutions, the Asian relies on an outside vendor to manufacture, install and take down the banners. The vendor is also "very helpful in the complex permitting process with the city," Hallman said.

The vendor even sends the dismantled banners to a Denver group that cleans and, whenever possible, recycles them, giving a proportionate rebate to the museum.

We typically order 70 to 80 pair of banners" - they hang in pairs - said Hallman, at a cost of about $200 per pair. The money comes out of the museum's marketing budget.